Replica slave cabin raises questions in Missouri community

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — An 85-year-old white widow's opening of a replica slave cabin to attract people to her Missouri black history library is drawing the ire of activists who consider the site an unnecessary reminder about slavery.

The Kansas City Star says schools aren't making plans to visit, and civic clubs don't want to hear presentations from Marge Harlan.

The retired psychologist and school teacher used about $175,000 of her own money to build and furnish the library in hopes of improving race relations, but it draws only a couple visitors a week.

Local NAACP leader Rhonda Chalfant decries the cabin, saying a friend described it as "building a replica of Auschwitz in a Jewish neighborhood." Chalfant says Harlan was warned the cabin wasn't a good idea but built it anyway.